There are several situations or risk areas where negotiation may be required due to the dynamics of project management, as both are inevitable. In general, conflicts occur when there are different views or ways to do something. While, the goal may be same, conflict can cause situations where reaching that goal is not the same. There are some cases where goals may be completely different. Some examples of conflict in project management are deciding what vendors to use or the use of subcontractors (outsourcing), input from two or more functional units (chartering), management of changes (scope change), resources, scheduling, priorities, technology, costs, administrative procedures and many times-personality differences of the project teams.
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To help, several negotiation techniques and strategies are available and effective depending on the risk areas. The objective is to reduce or resolve conflict to the point that all parties are satisfied. Creating a plan is the first and most critical phase to handle conflicts. It will identify potential risks, what is creating the conflict; determine whom the key players are and the ways to approach it, including deciding whom the final decision maker is. Success in negotiations is often based on careful analysis of the other part’s current and prospective circumstances (McCarthy & Hay, 2015). According to authors, McCarthy and Hay, who co-wrote the book, Advanced Negotiation Techniques, planning permeates every stage of negotiation, and should reviewed and refined during and in between every other phase of the negotiation. The planning phase can determine the method used to identify factors that influence the conflict resolution such as the importance and intensity of the conflict, time, position of those involved and the motivation to resolve conflict. Techniques used in the planning process to facilitate the method for negotiation include Brainstorming, Mind Mapping, Nominal Group, and Affinity Diagrams. Once planning occurs, the next step is to decide on the most appropriate method. According to PMBOK (2013), there are five general techniques for resolving conflict: Withdraw/Avoid; Smooth/Accommodate; Compromise/Reconcile; Force/Direct; and Collaborate/Problem
To help, several negotiation techniques and strategies are available and effective depending on the risk areas. The objective is to reduce or resolve conflict to the point that all parties are satisfied. Creating a plan is the first and most critical phase to handle conflicts. It will identify potential risks, what is creating the conflict; determine whom the key players are and the ways to approach it, including deciding whom the final decision maker is. Success in negotiations is often based on careful analysis of the other part’s current and prospective circumstances (McCarthy & Hay, 2015). According to authors, McCarthy and Hay, who co-wrote the book, Advanced Negotiation Techniques, planning permeates every stage of negotiation, and should reviewed and refined during and in between every other phase of the negotiation. The planning phase can determine the method used to identify factors that influence the conflict resolution such as the importance and intensity of the conflict, time, position of those involved and the motivation to resolve conflict. Techniques used in the planning process to facilitate the method for negotiation include Brainstorming, Mind Mapping, Nominal Group, and Affinity Diagrams. Once planning occurs, the next step is to decide on the most appropriate method. According to PMBOK (2013), there are five general techniques for resolving conflict: Withdraw/Avoid; Smooth/Accommodate; Compromise/Reconcile; Force/Direct; and Collaborate/Problem